Casey should be ready for the first race
Australian rider Casey Stoner is now preparing to make his MotoGP debut with the LCR Honda team in the Spain GP next month following a successful operation on his right shoulder.
Stoner, 20, was released from hospital in Sydney today (Wednesday, 22 February) after a one night stay for micro-surgery to repair a frayed tendon related to an old shoulder injury.
Doctors have given Stoner a four week recovery period and he is now planning his physiotherapy and training schedule to be ready for the Spanish Grand Prix on March 26.

“This is very positive news and without any complications I`m planning to be at Jerez to ride with the LCR Honda team in the first GP”, Stoner said. “I won`t be 100% fit for the first race because I`ll miss some testing and training but I`m looking forward to going racing. The end of the tendon was frayed and was catching on the bone, a little like the end of piece of rope. The doctor trimmed up the edges and said I can start physiotherapy almost immediately so I should be OK for Jerez.

I was prepared for the worst after the first medical check last week, perhaps being out for two or three months, but the tendon did not need any stitches or major surgery. The doctors looked inside with a mini-camera and saw that the injury was not as bad as it could have been”.

The operation was performed by a specialist surgeon in Sydney following exploratory surgery on Tuesday morning.

Stoner has made an impressive switch to MotoGP but was forced out of last week`s pre-season test session in Malaysia when the tendon injury flared after just 23 laps on day one. Earlier this month, Stoner had been sixth fastest in the MotoGP test at the Phillip Island circuit.

“I was keen to get the injury treated now and a proper fix before the season starts, even it means I won`t be able to push flat-out in the first race”, Stoner said. “It`s a long season and this is a learning year for me in MotoGP and I also have the rest of my career to think of. “I have been comfortable with my pace in testing, both at Phillip Island and Sepang, and that was with my shoulder not being 100%. In the past, I only felt some pain if I crashed and fell on my shoulder, but then last week in Malaysia it flared up just from riding so it was important to get it fixed now.”

Stoner will miss next week`s IRTA test in Spain as he recuperates for the opening GP for the season in Jerez.


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